Walt Disney Animation Studios' The Princess and the Frog has been garnering a lot of buzz lately. The film is Disney's first in-house, hand-drawn animated film since 2004's Home on the Range. The film features the first voice actress to provide the speaking and singing voice for the film's princess character since 1991's Beauty and the Beast. And most notably, The Princess and the Frog features Disney's first African-American princess and heroine. With The Princess and the Frog, directors/co-writers Ron Clements and John Musker and executive producer John Lasseter have not only brought back hand-drawn animation, they have also created a film that deserves to sit alongside Pinocchio, The Lion King and other renowned Disney classics.
The Princess and the Frog is the story of Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose). Tiana is a 19-year-old woman living in 1920s New Orleans. Her dream (and goal) is to own her own restaurant in dedication to her deceased father. Tiana is a waitress who saves up enough money to finally purchase a location for her restaurant. Meanwhile, Prince Naveen (voiced by Bruno Campos) arrives in the city with his butler Lawrence (voiced by Peter Bartlett). The prince is a philandering playboy who has been cut off by his family. He has to either get married to someone rich or find a job to support himself. The two run into Dr. Facilier (voiced by Keith David), a voodoo magician, who turns Naveen into a frog and gets Lawrence to join him in his evil scheme.
That night at the La Bouff Mardi Gras costume ball, Tiana learns that another client put down a higher offer on the building, and is now left with nothing unless she can top him by Wednesday. Having given up hope, Tiana wishes on the evening star just as Prince Naveen appears. He convinces her to kiss him, under the assumption that she's a princess, to break the curse. But, the spell backfires and turns Tiana into a frog.
The rest of the story is equal parts bayou adventure, Mardi Gras extravaganza, musical sensation and pure romance. With the help of Mama Odie, the good voodoo priestess of the bayou, Tiana and Naveen learn to "dig a little deeper" to find out what the need, instead of what they want.
Tiana is a hard-working character who is completely different from her Disney Princess counterparts, i.e. Snow White and Cinderella. She's not overtly feminine, like a few of the other princesses, and she's a strongly-defined character. You can really feel her determination, even when she gets transformed into a frog. The changes she experiences throughout the film feel natural and help show Tiana's complexities. It also helps that Anika Noni Rose brings a lot of life and passion into the role. Her performances allows Tiana to become the strongest princess in the Disney canon. She's a human being, just like you and I, even when she's hopping down the bayou.
Prince Naveen is also a pleasant surprise. He is a much more flesh-out character than the usual prince counterparts found in Disney animated fairy tales. He's a lazy, yet 
charming character who provides a lot of laughs in the film. His progress throughout the film and the loves that beings to grow is really beautiful to see.
Dr. Facilier can be put next to the greats in the Disney villains canon. He is wickedly evil and brings the right amount of the "creep" factor into every scene that he's in. Even if he's not in a scene, his presence is clearly felt. Yet, he also has his own fears, which adds to the complexity of this villain. Dr. Facilier ranks up there with the best Disney villains, such as Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, Ursula the sea witch from The Little Mermaid and Scar from The Lion King. 
The voodoo shadow spirits that he conjures are some of the creepiest creatures seen in a Disney animated classic since 1985's The Black Cauldron. Dr. Facilier also receives a big show-stopping musical number, "Friends on the Other Side", that is an instant classic and has a "Poor Unfortunate Souls" (1989's The Little Mermaid) vibe to it.
The other characters who round up the ensemble are also excellent in every way. Ray the Cajun firefly is a character that surprisingly brings plenty of heart to the film. He is also the character that commands the most heartbreakingly emotional moment in the movie. Ray is lovestruck with the evening star, which he has 
named Evangeline. Veteran voice actor Jim Cummings (from Winnie-the-Pooh to Darkwing Duck) gives his best work to date with Ray. He imbues the character with the right amount of humor and sentiment. Louis the alligator provides some of the film's funniest moments. Tiana's best friend, southern belle Charlotte La Bouff also provides some of the film's biggest laughs. Mama Odie makes a massive impact (even though she's only in the movie for about ten minutes). She provides one of the film's big show-stopping musical numbers.
Since this is Disney's return to hand-drawn animated musicals, both the songs and 
animation need to be mentioned. This film is Disney at its best. The background art is so spacious and beautiful to look at. It shows exactly just how much care was taken into painting a portrait of New Orleans and its bayou. A scene in which we see a bunch of fireflies light up the bayou is visually stunning to see on the big screen. Randy Newman brings the right New Orleans sound to the music. From Mama Odie's gospel-infused number "Dig a Little Deeper" to the incredibly catchy "When We're Human" to Tiana's "Almost There". The music ranks up there with the songs of Alan Menken, Frank Churchill and the Sherman Brothers.
The Princess and the Frog is filled with so much life. The film is a timeless story that can sit precisely beside the best in the Disney canon.
~Papi Chulo~
